🇮🇹🇬🇧 Gambino’s corner: 106th Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour of Flanders

Climbs and Pavé Sectors

CLIMBS

1. Oude Kwaremont – 132.2 km from the finish – 2,200 meters long, 4% average gradient and 11.6% maximum
2. Kortekeer – 125.7 km from the finish – 1,000 meters long, 6.2% average gradient and 11% maximum
3. Achterberg- 119.2 km from the finish – 1,500 meters long, 4.4% average gradient and 14% maximum
4. Wolvenberg – 114.3 km from the finish – 645 meters long, 7.9% average gradient and 17.3% maximum
5. Molenberg – 101.8 km from the finish – 465 meters long, 7% average gradient and 12% maximum
6. Marlboroughstraat – 97.9 km from the finish – 2,040 meters long, 3% average gradient and 7% maximum
7. Berendries – 93.8 km from the finish – 940 meters long, 7% average gradient and 12.3% maximum
8. Valkenberg – 88.5 km from the finish – 540 meters long, 8.1% average gradient and 13% maximum
9. Berg The Houte – 76 km from the finish – 1,100 meters long, 6% average gradient and 21% maximum
10. Kanarieberg – 70.5 km from the finish – 1,000 meters long, 7.7% average gradient and 14% maximum
11. Oude Kwaremont – 54.6 km from the finish – 2,200 meters long, 4% average gradient and 11.6% maximum
12. Paterberg – 51.2 km from the finish – 360 meters long, 12.9% average gradient and 20.3% maximum
13. Koppenberg – 44.6 km from the finish – 600 meters long, 11.6% average gradient and 22% maximum
14. Steenbeekdries – 39.2 km from the finish – 1,100 meters long, 3.1% average gradient and 6.7% maximum
15. Taaienberg – 36.8 km from the finish – 530 meters long, 6.6% average gradient and 15.8% maximum
16. Kruisberg-Hotond – 26.5 km from the finish – 2,500 meters long, 5% average gradient and 9% maximum
17. Oude Kwaremont – 16.7 km from the finish – 2,200 meters long, 4% average gradient and 11.6% maximum
18. Paterberg – 13.3 km from the finish – 360 meters long, 12.9% average gradient and 20.3% maximum

PAVE ‘ SECTORS

1. Lippenhovestraat – 1,300 meters 168.8 km from the finish
2. Paddestraat – 1,500 meters at 167.3 km from the finish
3. Holleweg – 650 meters 116.9 km from the finish
4. Kerkgate – 1,400 meters 110.7 km from the finish
5. Jagerij – 800 meters 108.1 km from the finish
6. Mariaborrestraat – 400 meters 40.6 km from the finish
7. Stationsberg – 700 meters 38.7 km from the finish

🇬🇧 TOUR OF FLANDERS 2022: THE HELL OF THE NORTH RETURNS
by Simone Gambino

Tomorrow, as per tradition on the first Sunday in April, the Tour of Flanders, the second of the five monumental classics on the 2022 international calendar, takes place. Now in its 106th year, Belgium’s most popular race will, for the sixth year running, start from Antwerp’s market square and finish on the endless straight in Oudenaarde. In between there will be 273 kilometres, including no fewer than 18 walls, filled with all kinds of cycling legends, to which cold and probably snow should be added. Similar to the Milan-San Remo of a fortnight ago, the Ronde is notable for the many quality absentees on the starting line. World champion Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Alpha Vynil Team) has decided to concentrate on the Ardennes Classics at the end of the month, while Peter Sagan (TotalEnegies) has simply given up due to a form that does not allow him to be competitive. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) has already flown to Spain where he will defend his title at the Tour of the Basque Country from Monday. Then there is the derelict Israel Premiertech who, plagued by illness and injury, has announced its collective forfeit, a decision which is likely to weigh heavily on the renewal of its World Tour licence at the end of the year. Dulcis in fundo, the defection of home idol Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma), victim of COVID-19, was added. The last two editions have seen a similar solution with opposite results with Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix) coming into the final sprint in the company of another rider to battle it out in a dramatic head-to-head. In October 2020, the only autumn edition in the history of the wall race, the Dutchman got the better of his eternal rival, Wout van Aert, in a photo finish. In contrast, 12 months ago, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor had to give way to the surprising Dane Kasper Asgreen (Quick Step Alpha Vynil). It is likely that the latter two will be the big favourites tomorrow, although van Aert’s two deputies in the Jumbo Visma jersey should not be overlooked as they will try not to make up for the absence of their captain: the Flemish Tiesj Benoot and the transalpine Christophe Laporte. Finally, Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Intermarchè Wanty Gobert), winner in 2015, and, above all, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) making his debut in the Flemish classicism, cannot be excluded from the prediction. It will be interesting to see how the 23-year-old star from Komenda, officially racing to gain experience, will know how to perform in a context hitherto unknown to him. Whatever happens, plenty of hot tea will be served tomorrow after 5pm in and around Oudenaarde.

🇮🇹 Giro delle Fiandre 2022: torna l’inferno del nord

Domani, come da tradizione nella prima domenica d’aprile, va in scena il Giro delle Fiandre, la seconda delle cinque classiche monumento del calendario internazionale 2022. Giunta alla 106ma edizione, la corsa più amata dai belgi partira, per il sesto anno consecutivo, dalla piazza del mercato di Anversa per concludersi sull’interminabile rettilineo di Oudenaarde. In mezzo ci saranno 273 chilometri comprendenti ben 18 muri, infarciti da leggende ciclistiche d’ogni genere, cui si dovrebbero aggiungere freddo e, probabilmente, anche neve. Simile alla Milano – Sanremo di due settimane fa, la Ronde si fa notare per i molti assenti di qualità ai nastri di partenza. Il campione del mondo Julian Alaphilippe (Quick Step Alpha Vynil Team) ha deciso di concentrarsi sulle classiche delle Ardenne, in programma a fine mese, mentre la rinuncia di Peter Sagan (TotalEnegies) è semplicemente dovuta ad una forma che non gli consente di essere competitivo. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) è già volato in Spagna dove da lunedì difenderà il suo titolo al Giro dei Paesi Baschi. C’è poi la derelitta Israel Premiertech che, bersagliata da malattie ed infortuni, ha annunciato il suo forfait collettivo, una decisione che rischia di pesare fortemente sul rinnovo a fine anno della sua licenza World Tour. Dulcis in fundo, si è aggiunta la defezione dell’idolo di casa Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma), vittima del COVID-19. Le ultime due edizioni hanno registrato una soluzione analoga dai risultati opposti con Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin Fenix) che si è presentato allo sprint finale in compagnia di un altro corridore per giocarsi la vittoria in un drammatico testa a testa. Nell’ottobre 2020, unica edizione autunnale nella storia della corsa dei muri, l’olandese ebbe la meglio al fotofinish sul suo eterno rivale, Wout van Aert. Diversamente, 12 mesi fa, il nipote di Raymond Poulidor dovette cedere il passo al sorprendente danese Kasper Asgreen (Quick Step Alpha Vynil). È presumibile che questi ultimi duellanti siano i grandi favoriti per domani anche se non vanno trascurati i due vicari di van Aert in maglia Jumbo Visma che tenteranno di non far rimpiangere l’assenza del loro capitano: il fiammingo Tiesj Benoot ed il transalpino Christophe Laporte. Non possono, infine, essere esclusi dal pronostico il norvegese Alexander Kristoff (Intermarchè Wanty Gobert), vincitore nel 2015, e, soprattutto, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) al suo esordio nella classicisma fiamminga. Sarà interessante vedere come il 23enne fuoriclasse di Komenda, ufficialmente in gara per fare esperienza, saprà comportarsi in un contesto a lui finora ignoto. Poco più che simbolica la partecipazione italiana. Con il vincitore dell’ultima Parigi- Roubaix Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious), ai box a tempo indefinito, Alberto Bettiol (EF Education Easy Post), ultimo trionfatore azzurro nella Ronde, cercherà di rinverdire i fasti di quella indimenticabile cavalcata di tre anni fa mentre Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) e Gianni Moscon (Astana Qazaqstan) proveranno a ritagliarsi un ruolo da protagonisti nelle gelide pieghe della corsa dei muri, la cui vittoria conferisce la laurea di campione. Di sicuro, comunque vada, sarà servito molto the caldo domani dopo le 17.00 ad Oudenaarde e dintorni.

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